Social Science Webquest

Introduction

Welcome, young historians! 

Have you ever wondered why Kiribati did not gain independence as early as some other Pacific nations? In this WebQuest, you will travel back in time to explore the events and issues that delayed Kiribati’s journey to independence.

Through games, teamwork, and creative activities, you will uncover the Banaban issue—One of the important events that delayed Kiribati’s Independence.

By the end of this WebQuest, you will:

  • Identify the causes of the delay of Kiribati’s independence.

  • List and explain issues that contributed to this delay.

  • Understand how this issue affected the people of Kiribati.

Let’s begin this historical adventure! 🏝️📜

Task

Task

Your mission is to become a History Investigator!

You will work in groups to research, discuss, and present your findings about the causes that delayed Kiribati’s independence.

Your tasks:

  1. Discover what caused the delay of independence in Kiribati.

  2. Explain the Banaban issue clearly.

  3. Create a group poster or short role-play that shows how these issues affected Kiribati’s path to becoming an independent nation.

  4. Complete a short quiz and reflection activity to show your understanding.

 

Process

Play the “Jumbled Word” game!

Your teacher will display some mixed-up words (e.g., ndeeepennic, cuasse, issue). Work together to rearrange them into the correct words.

 



This fun game helps you recall important terms before starting.

    • Step 1: Warm-up (10 minutes) Let's watch a short movie to lead our understanding more on this topic.
    •  Step 2: Learn the Background (10 minutes) Let watch this short movie to lead our understanding more on this topic before we do the exercise.

 

Read and discuss the notes provided by your teacher about the causes of colonialism and the background of Kiribati’s independence.

Ask questions, highlight key terms, and share your thoughts with classmates.

  •  Step 3: Group Research & Discussion (20 minutes)

Form four groups:

  • Group 1 & 2: Define the Banaban issue 

  • Group 3 & 4: Research and discuss the Banaban issue.

Use your notes, teacher resources, and classroom materials to find:

  • What happened during the issue?

  • Why was it a problem?

  • How did it delay Kiribati’s independence?

Create a poster on A3 paper showing your findings using drawings, timelines, and keywords.

  •  Step 4: Present Your Work (5–10 minutes)

Each group presents its poster to the class.

Be creative — you can use short role-plays, interviews, or storytelling to make your presentation exciting!

  • Step 5: Application – Quick Quiz (10 minutes)

Answer the True/False and Short Answer questions provided:

  • True or False: The Banaban issue caused the delay of Kiribati’s Independence.

  • Short Answer Example: Why did Banaba want to separate from the Gilbert Islands?

Then, swap papers with a partner and mark together with the class discussion.

  • Step 6: Fun Review Game – Talking Box (10 minutes)

Join the Talking Box game!

When the music stops, the student holding the box picks a question card and answers:

  • What is the Banaban issue?

  • What issues caused the delay of Gilbert’s independence?

End the game with three big claps for everyone’s teamwork and effort! 👏👏👏

Evaluation
Criteria

 

  Excellent (4) Good (3) Satisfactory (2) Needs Improvement (1)
Understanding of Issues Clearly explains the Banaban issues with strong detail Explains this issue with some details Explains this issue but lacks clarity Little or no understanding shown
Group Collaboration Works well, everyone contributes equally Works well, some rely on others Unequal participation Minimal teamwork
Creativity & Presentation Poster/role-play is creative, colorful, and clear Poster/role-play is neat and informative Poster/role-play is simple Poster/role-play incomplete
Quiz Accuracy 4–5 correct answers 3 correct answers 2 correct answers 0–1 correct answer

Students can earn a total of 16 points.

Conclusion

Congratulations, young historians! 🎉

You have explored and understood one of the major issues — the Banaban issue — that delayed Kiribati’s independence.

Through teamwork and discussion, you’ve learned how disagreements and social issues can affect a nation’s progress.

Remember: Unity, understanding, and cooperation is key to building a strong nation.

Credits

This WebQuest was developed for Year 7 Social Science based on the topic Cause of Nationalism (Issues cause delay of Kiribati's independence)

Resources adapted and referenced from:

  • Kiribati Social Science Teacher’s Guide (Ministry of Education)

  • Kiribati History Notes for Secondary Schools

  • Kiribati museum 

Teacher Page

Subject: Social Science

Year level: 7

Duration: 60 minutes

Learning Outcomes:

  • Identify the causes of the delay of Kiribati's Independence.

  • List one issue that caused the delay.

  • Explain how this issue affected the independence movement.

Teaching Tips:

  • Prepare the jumbled words and question cards before class.

  • Monitor group discussions to ensure equal participation.

  • Encourage creativity in posters and presentations.

  • Use praise and claps to motivate students.

  • Ensure questions in the Talking Box reflect lesson objectives.

Assessment Tools:

  • Observation checklist

  • Group poster rubric

  • Quiz results

  • Oral responses during the Talking Box activity